POWERGRAMS

Thumbs Up! Blev Strickland of Trussville called to compliment PD Distribution Local Operations Lineman Brett Page for performing a "special job outside his regular duties." On April 11, a power line fell in the Stricklands' yard. When Page finished restoring power to the house on Yvonne Street, the Stricklands realized they were locked out of their house. Page helped them get inside before going on to his next work order. Southeast Division employees volunteered for the Eufaula Special Olympics. Area Manager John McLean, Phenix City Field Service Representative Malinda Golden and others helped celebrate the accomplishments of the athletes. "We have a great turnout of volunteers for this, our crew comes to support it, people drive from as far as two hours away to volunteer for this every year. We are so honored to be a part of it!" said Community Relations Specialist Katie Thomas. Western Division Area Manager Joseph Brown has been appointed to the University of West Alabama (UWA) board of trustees. The Alabama Senate confirmed Brown recently by a 31-0 vote. "I am honored and thankful to be able to serve on the board of trustees for the University of West Alabama," said Brown. Matthew Still, the son of Robert Still, a radiation protection shift operations superintendent at Plant Farley, was named a National Merit Finalist and received the $1,000 scholarship. He will attend New College of Florida in Sarasota and major in philosophy. He plans to attend law school after graduation. Keith Martin wrote to commend Local Operations Linemen Johnny Calvin and Eric Tolson for restoring power to his residence after a tree was blown onto his house in Anniston. "The tree was caught and held up by the live wire coming into my home from the pole," Martin wrote. "The response and service was excellent." s Western Division Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) volunteers partnered with a church to build a Habitat for Humanity house in Alberta City. The team representing Alabama Power included Harry Gabriel, Jeff Heckman, Mark Stacks, Gary Hearn, Greg Murray, Corey Sweeney, James Burnam, Steve Zimmerman, Kevin Reid and Carlos Gonzalez. They had all of the walls of the home and all of the support beams for the porch up in half a day of work. Plant Gaston employees and APSO members handed out water, snacks and trinkets at their booth at Tails and Tires, an adopt-a-pet event on Columbiana's main street. The family fun event featured many pet- adoption opportunities, a car show, arts and crafts, food and music. It was sponsored by the Shelby County Humane Society, city of Columbiana and Alabama Power. Last year, Glenda Roberson, Plant Gaston, came up with the idea for the event and helped get it off the ground, along with the Humane Society and APSO. For the past six years, Transmission employees have teamed with APSO to support the Alabama Kidney Foundation and patients statewide. Administrative assistants decorate containers for their desks to collect loose change from January through April – the months leading up to the annual Birmingham Kidney Walk. This employee competition, known as the "Change Champion," grew out of an idea from a small Transmission walk team committee in 2012. Since then, APSO members have always surpassed the fundraising goal for the walk. This year, the administrative assistants decided the winner would choose which "admin" would wear a kidney costume. Beatrice Raferty, Transmission Construction, won by raising more than $3,000. The top three administrative assistants, Rafferty, Suzanne Saxon and Meredith Grier, together collected more than $8,000 of about $13,000 raised for this year's walk. The annual walk benefits the Alabama Kidney Foundation, which provides financial support and educational awareness to dialysis patients. Diana Obed-Harris called to thank Local Operations Linemen Joe Driskill and Neal Alldredge for restoring service to her house in Anniston. She is on life support and said she appreciates Alabama Power employees who work in good and bad weather to keep the lights on. 56

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